Sunday, July 5, 2009

Next to Newsletter- Monday, July 6, 2009

Next to NewsletterThe thrill of shopping without the guilt!Monday- July 6, 2009A weekly publication of Next to New Resale Boutique

Morning, everybody!

I'm writing this week's newsletter from Jackson, MS. We came over for the weekend to see our daughter, Molly, who started working here in June. For the past month she's stayed with a wonderful family until the girl whose room she's subletting moved out of the house she'll be sharing with two roommates.

So we drove out to check out the town and help Molly get settledinto her new digs.

Jackson's a lovely town although right now it's sort of like living in a steam cabinet. Locals tell me this blast furnace heat is standard for summer.

One of the first things we did was venture out to investigate the local resale shops. The first we visited was a vintage shop called The Orange Peel. It's in a funky, artsy section of town called Fondren. There were wonderful deals on furniture and decorative items. The clothes were a little more of a challenge since they weren't arranged by size, just color. I know that looks good, but it doesn't make for very efficient shopping.

Molly and Rachel in the fitting rooms at The Orange Peel.

There's lots of this and that at The Orange Peel.

Know how Gainesville has painted roosters and Athens has decorated bulldogs? Jackson has catfish.

We also visited the Junior League's resale store, called the Bargain Boutique. Nice people and a cute logo.

Thanks so much to Cheryl and Lisa for keeping the home fires burning while we made our visit.

Each week, we'll be doing cash buying for one area in the shop that really needs inventory. This week, it's SHOES.Here's how it works... bring your shoes that are in perfect condition. We'll buy them for cash. You can bring in other clothing and accessories as well- we'll buy them for credit as usual. Please pack your shoes separately and let us know that you have cash items when you come in. Buying hours are the same: Monday thru Thursday 10AM to 4PM and other times by prior arrangement.We'll be buying shoes for cash all week- through Thursday, July 9th. Check next week's newsletter to see what the next buy-for-cash department will be.

New columns

My husband, Arthur, and I each write twice-a-month columns for The Gainesville Times. His deal with computing and technology issues. Mine deal with whatever strikes my fancy. His latest was published on July 4th. Click hereto read Arthur's piece ondata phishing .

My June 26th column is about the dangers to kids in and around cars and one of the most dim-witted, irresponsible commercials I've ever seen. Click hereto read.

The home alarm system you may not know you have

This great idea from wisebread.com:

Home alarm systems can be expensive. A basic alarm system can be hundreds of dollars. But, chances are, you already own a pretty good alternative.

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key chain fob. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the intruder won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.

And then, another great tip...

Also, you can extend the distance your alarm will activate by holding the key fob under your chin making contact with your skin. Your body is a natural antenna and will help extend the length you can extend the signal.

Folding Trees

If you enjoy paper crafts and are looking for creative inspiration, check out Folding Trees. The site displays a variety of crafts that can be made from a humble piece of paper: origami, paper art, quilling, papercutting, recycled paper crafts - to name just a few. Enjoy the tutorials and share your own creations. Go to http://www.foldingtrees.com/ to get started.

Cow Appreciation Day

On July 10, receive a free combo meal at Chick-fil-A restaurants when you dress up as a cow (yes, a cow) during its 5th Annual Cow Appreciation Day. There's also a Kid's Photo Contest and a Facebook Photo contest. Go to http://www.cowappreciationday.com/ for more info and costume ideas.

Oh- and be sure to send us your cow pictures, too. We'd love to feature them in the next N2Nsletter.

Zucchini Bread

Here's a great way to use up all that excess zucchini that our gardens produce this time of year.

Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.

Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Bumper Sticker of the Week

Weekly this 'n' that

Remember to bring in your plastic grocery bags to recycle and register to win a $25.00 store credit.

If you'd like to be added to the N2N Hot Flash list and receive freebie and bargain alerts during the week, just email me at next2new@aol.com.

All of Arthur's Computer Care columns are now accessible through hisComputer House Calls blog. There are also key words to click to research specific questions or problems and lots of extra information and new product reviews.

You can add comments or questions and add the blog to your list to follow. Click hereto check it out.

Computer Problems?

Don't hesitate to call Arthur if your computer has a virus or isn'trunning as fast as it should. He will come to you or you can drop off yourPC at Next to New. His rates put the Geeks to shame and your satisfaction isguaranteed. One-on-one instruction available or get some friends togetherfor an even better rate. He can fix software problems through remote accessif necessary, so no matter where you are, give him a call - your computerwill thank you. You can click hereto go to his website.

A while back, I sent out a Hot Flash abouthttp://www.houseparty.com/. It's a person-to-person marketing program where folks can introduce their friends to new and interesting products. Recently, N2N was chosen to host a house party focusing on Splenda products.

We going to be throwing a Splenda bash here at the shop on a Saturday afternoon soon. There'll be door prizes, drawings, goodie bags, samples and lots more. Think you might like to come? Just drop me an email at

next2new@aol.com and I'll send you an official invitation. For those of you who have already RSVP'd- thanks and can't wait to see you!

FREE STARBUCKS ICE CREAM

Get a FREE Pint of Starbucks Ice Cream through Facebook. Starbucks will give away up to 20,000 free coupons for pints of Starbucks ice cream every day through July 19. Quantities are limited to 800 per hour so if 800 has been reached for the hour, be sure to try again the next hour. Even if you don't get the free treat, there's a link to print a $1.00 off coupon. Heads, you win; tails you win!

AND THIS...

Francine emailed us with a reminder: Shortly after noon tomorrow, it'll be 12:34:56 7/8/9. This will happen once and only once in all of history. Is that cool or what?

ALSO

We've gotten in a great selection of girl's half-sizes (14 1/2 thru 20 1/2). There are cute-cute-cute tops, jeans, shorts...great for camp! They won't last long so come by soon!

Later Addition- Here's the HOT FLASH that went out on July 8:

We have N2N Field Reporter Margie to thank for sending in these great deals.

First, there's Arby's.

Keeping cool in the summer is a must. Arby’s Restaurants is helping out on that front with a FREE orange cream swirl shake today (Wednesday, July 8) with the purchase of any sandwich.

Arby’s has a free deal every Wednesday this summer. Check back here each week to find out what it is.

The new BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger, is free with the purchase of any size drink. To score the deal, you’ll need a coupon. Just text BBQ to Arby’s — 27297. Coupons can be accessed via text through July 16, and redeemed through July 19.

And then there's B&N and Starbucks

Nothing goes together better than a hot cup of coffee and a good book. Get both when you download the Barnes & Noble Bookstore application on your iPhone. Once there, click on the free coffee offer and redeem it for a tall-sized brewed coffee at Starbucks, which in many cases is conveniently located inside the bookstores.Here’s the app: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/iphone/index.asp?r=1

Also, I was in the Just $2.00 store in front of Wal-Mart on Shallowford Road yesterday. In addition to lots of as-seen-on-TV items like Ped Eggs and the Song En leg smoothers, they have Strap Perfect for...wait for it...wait for it...JUST $2.00!

A note to all you N2N Field reporters in the mountain counties: I've heard there's a Just $5.00 store in Hiawassee. Has anyone been there lately? What'd you find? Please let us know. If the news is good, we'll pass it on.

That's it for now. Remember-email goes both ways...

If you run across any exceptional bargains or impressive new products, let us know. We'll put the word out!

Have a remarkable week!

Teressa and the Next2New Crew

Next to New Resale Boutique1705 Cleveland Hwy.Gainesville, GA 30501770-534-9070

About Me

Next to New opened in 1986 to provide like-new family fashions for the north Georgia community. We carry like new fashions for the entire family. Our weekly newsletter/blog focuses on making bargain shopping a lifestyle.